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United Ascent
Vol. 1, No. 4 · August 8, 2026
The people, performances and progress driving North Carolina wrestling forward.
View every United Ascent issueOfficial Media Partnership
The NC Mat Joins the Tournament of Champions
NC United is proud to announce The NC Mat as the official media partner of the 2026 Tournament of Champions.
Rhett Hoy and Ryan Mitchell have become trusted voices in North Carolina wrestling through their photography, storytelling, interviews and event coverage. Their role will include athlete and bracket announcements, collaboration on tournament seeding, live commentary, photography and coverage throughout the weekend.
The partnership pairs an elite field with experienced voices who understand the athletes, programs and stories shaping wrestling across the state.
Club Spotlight
School of Hard Knocks Captures Chocolate Town Duals Championship
The School of Hard Knocks traveled to Pennsylvania and returned as the Chocolate Town Duals High School Club Division champion.
The team went 5-0 with a roster made entirely of club members. One School of Hard Knocks wrestler finished 9-1 across the weekend, while Jeyvlin Palmeri dropped only two matches against a strong field.
Five duals. Five victories. One club championship.
RecruitNC
Introducing Club Locator
RecruitNC has launched a statewide Club Locator designed to help families discover nearby wrestling programs and understand what each club offers.
Families can explore an interactive map, compare programs, get directions and open a dedicated club page with location, distance, contact information, age groups, wrestling styles, affiliated athletes, commitments, rankings and accomplishments.
National Competition
Two North Carolina Teams Place Top 10 at Deep South Duals
Two North Carolina teams finished inside the Top 10 of a 70-team national field at the Deep South Duals.
Carolina Hammer Squad reached the Gold Bracket and placed sixth despite a difficult draw and surrendering a forfeit in every dual. Brandon Lefler, Tyton Kostoff and Nash Mullis each finished 8-1, with Scott Swain helping in the corner.
OTM Walters went 7-2 and placed ninth. Connor Reece, Ayden Sumners and Manny Kahsai all completed the event undefeated.
Two teams. Two Top-10 finishes. Another strong showing for North Carolina wrestling.
Tournament of Champions
The Championship Stage Takes Shape
The Tournament of Champions will be contested on two custom 42-by-42-foot Resilite Flex 3 mats, built in navy with a white NC United logo and UltraPrint graphics.
The mats are among the event's largest investments and will give the competition a distinctive championship surface worthy of the field being assembled.
Hope Church · Apex, North Carolina · September 18–19, 2026
Super 32
Two Paths to Super 32 Early Registration
High school boys can secure early registration through approved credentials or by placing at an official qualifier. Early registration opens Monday, August 17 at 6 p.m. ET, and entries are verified before acceptance.
North Carolina boys can qualify through achievements that include:
- A Top-2 finish at the 2026 NCHSAA state championships
- A 2026 16U or Junior Fargo All-American finish
- A recent Super 32 placement
- A Top-6 finish at the 2026 NHSCA High School Nationals
- A national Top-20 ranking from FloWrestling, InterMat or MatScouts
- A qualifying World or Pan-American team result, or Top-4 finish at an approved qualifier
The North Carolina qualifier is scheduled for September 5 at Morehead High School in Eden. Registration is $45, the field is capped at 450 wrestlers and the Top 4 in each weight qualify.
Tournament Opportunity
Knockout Championships Keeps the Competition Going
The fifth annual Knockout Championships will provide a second competition opportunity for boys and girls eliminated from Super 32, along with wrestlers seeking another strong fall event.
Super 32 weigh-ins will be honored, on-site weigh-ins will include an allowance and no USA Wrestling card is required. Divisions will include Tot, Bantam, Elementary, Middle School and High School.
Sunday, October 25, 2026 · James B. Dudley High School
One loss does not have to end the weekend.
Scholarship Reminder
Who Comes to Mind?
The inaugural Caden Perry Warrior Scholarship will provide $1,000 toward wrestling-development expenses for a North Carolina wrestler whose response to genuine adversity reflects courage, resilience and the refusal to quit.
This award is not based on rankings, records or championships. Coaches, teammates, teachers, family members and community members may submit a nomination through August 30. The recipient will be announced September 19 at the Tournament of Champions.
Community Celebrations
Celebrating Jon Jon Millner and Ryan Mitchell
This week, North Carolina wrestling celebrates two people who continue giving back to the sport.
Jon Jon Millner continues pouring into wrestlers through coaching and mentorship at Darkhorse Wrestling. Ryan Mitchell helps preserve and share the state's wrestling stories through his photography and media work with The NC Mat.
Happy birthday, and thank you both for everything you contribute to the wrestling community.
The Ascent Continues
North Carolina Wrestling Keeps Moving Forward
School of Hard Knocks returned from Pennsylvania with a club championship, while Carolina Hammer Squad and OTM Walters both placed inside the Top 10 of a 70-team national field.
RecruitNC launched Club Locator, the Tournament of Champions added custom Resilite mats and The NC Mat became its official media partner. Wrestlers gained new Super 32 opportunities, and the community continued celebrating those who serve the sport while searching for the first Caden Perry Warrior Scholarship recipient.
North Carolina wrestling is ascending — and we're covering every step.
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